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Friday, February 1, 2013

HAPPY NEW MONTH: Films of January 2013

The first year with four different numbers since 1987 has begun.

And with it, Award-o-mania, which took hold of me as soon as the Oscar nominations were announced. Having seen each film that's nominated for more than 1 of the precious statues, except for the ones that will be coming to our theaters in February, I'm kind of fed up with 2012 movies right now. It was a rewarding experience though, to watch all these films I had been anticipating, and most of them turned out quite all right. I'm also playing with the idea of hosting a little blogathon about award snubs, something I've been wanting to try for a long time now, except I'm a bit of a coward. If you all promise to consider joining I would take it up on Sunday though.

Otherwise I discovered an awesome tv series this month, with the side effect of me not wanting to watch movies anymore until I've finished the series. Furthermore, I just bought an HDMI cable today, so I'll be able to watch the rest of the series on my TV which is so cool! Not so cool for all the films that want to be watched, but whatever.

At least I did manage to squeeze in a lot of them last month...

WATCHED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME

Amour (2012) Michael Haneke, France/Germany/Austria

A movie about a woman dying, no soundtrack. Wooooow, how deeeeeep! Leading actress was great though, can't deny that.

Rating: 6.7

Argo (2012) Ben Affleck, USA

Very suspenseful, humorous and entertaining - but by no means the best movie or one of the best movies of 2012.

Rating: 8.1

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) Frank Capra, USA

Whoever said that Cary Grant is one of the best comedians ever? He just kept rolling his eyes, which would've been slightly funny hadn't he looked into the camera all the time.

There are films that you just know you'll love. And don't ask why it's always this kind of movies.

Rating: 9.4

Flight (2012) Robert Zemeckis, USA

I didn't at all expect a good movie from this and got a really good one. Especially Denzel Washington was nothing but awesome, and as I've decided after a few days thinking, he was better than Daniel-Day Lewis in Lincoln.

Now this is what I call a deserved classic. Never loose your faith in old movies.

Rating: 9.3

Modern Times (1936) Charles Chaplin, USA

The best thing we ever did in art class.

Rating: 8.1

Ondine (2009) Neil Jordan - Ireland/USA

Wanted to catch this in the theaters but somehow missed it - a truly magical experience I must say. And not only because I'm a sucker for the Irish accent.

Rating: 7.5

Paradies: Liebe (2012) Ulrich Seidl, Austria/Germany/France

Now this was really interesting - and at times disgusting. It's a movie about middle-aged Austrian women that go to Nigeria and buy black men.

Rating: 7.4

Silver Linings Playbook (2012) David O. Russell, USA

One of my instant favourites of last year! I think I loved every part of it, can't wait for the DVD to hug and watch it until it melts.

Rating: 9.2

Skyfall (2012) Sam Mendes, UK/USA

The best James Bond film I've seen except for Goldfinger.

Rating: 8.2

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) Rupert Sanders, USA

Not as bad as I thought, although I didn't really understand why people had to talk with British accents (not always in a convincing way, ahem, Chris Hemsworth). An interesting concept in any way, though it could've been better made.

10 comments:

Nice to see some of my favourite smaller films of recent times getting some love. I very much eenjoyed The Art of Getting By, It's Kind of a Funny Story and Daydream Nation. I haven't seen Arsenic and Old Lace but might check it out, thanks. Have you see Kind Hearts and Coronets? Alec Guiness is astonishing in seven(?) different roles!

As for the undoubtedly racist and offensive stereotypes in Breakfast at Tiffany's, all I remember from that movie is Audrey (sigh!) :)

I actually watched all three movies you mentioned in one day, in the exact order you mentioned them! :DThey were all wonderful. No, I haven't seen Kind Hearts and Coronets, but I think it's in my watchlist. I didn't really like Arsenic and Old Lace too much, perhaps you'll enjoy it.

Oh yes, Breakfast at Tiffany's - my first Audrey Hepburn movie. She is so much better than I imagined!

I just loved Beasts of the southern wild. And Django. And Gangs of Wasseypur (this one was simply incredible). About Albert Camus, I couldn't finish L'Etranger, but La Peste is one of my favourite novels.

Hey, nice to see you! Gangs of Wasseypur is already a future classic I think - who didn't like it?L'etranger was kinda boring yeah... but perhaps I'll check out La Peste some time (if I'm finished with Anna Karenina some day).

I think I'll skip Lincoln, both you and Andina struggled with it, plus I'm not really interested in the subject matter. Amour definitely is overhyped, I thought a couple of scenes near the end are powerful, but besides the acting, I found it mostly boring the first hour, and I had very little emotional connection to the old couple. Amour wouldn't even be among my top 5 Haneke films. I'm taking a break from doing blogathons, so I'll pass, I hope the snub-a-thon goes well!

Even if you were interested in the subject, the film would probably be just the same - simply boring. Ah, it's nice to hear some more criticism against Amour. I liked The White Ribbon so much more.I'm sad you won't join the blogathon but thanks for the good wishes!

Always good to tick off those Oscar nominated films. You had a huge month!!!

Love your comment on Amour hahaha, I definitely laughed. I didn't dig it either. I only watched Eyes Wide Shut for the first time last year and I adored it too, I can't wait to watch it again - so glad you loved it!